Stop Motion with Adobe Premiere Elements
In this 30-hour course, you will learn to create stop-motion animation films using
Adobe Premiere Elements. We will explore a variety of mediums including clay, Legos,
paper, pipe cleaners and white boards to create our animations. We will add music, dialog
and sound FX using a variety of audio recording devices, stock libraries and Adobe
Soundbooth. Digital video cameras, web cams, and digital still cameras will be used, so
feel free to bring your own.
We will learn digital video terminology, explore the Premiere Elements
interface, and use tools to create transitions, titles, and perform basic editing functions.
This class will also cover creating a DVD and exporting video to the web.
During the workshop, participants will work in teams to make curriculum-based
projects that will become great examples to use with your students before they create
their stop motion films. Participants will be provided with web-based tutorials they can
use in their classroom or for staff development.
This course is supported by a generous grant from the Adobe Foundation Fund
and Community Foundation Silicon Valley.
Stop Motion with Adobe Premiere Elements
Agenda
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Session1: Introduction to stop motion animation and the production process
Session2: Shooting techniques and working with audio
Session3: Advanced techniques and project planning
Session4: Shooting and an integrated project
 Session5: Publishing your projects to DVD and online Learning Resources
Since all my lessons are online and on the DVD you got from the workshop you
can immediately start using these lessons with your students or share them with the
faculty at our school/district. I encourage you to personally take on projects that allow
you to practice these techniques. Continue to read some of the excellent books that cover
these amazing software applications, explore the many online resources and learn from
your students as they push the limits. I have included a list of my favorite online learning
resources.
Course Objectives
Students will learn:
 The process for producing a stop motion film, including: pre-production,
production and post-production.
 How to add narration and music to video clips.
 How to add transitions and effects to video clips.
 Titling, trimming, arranging and overlaying video clips.
Why Stop Motion in the Classroom
Digital video is a powerful communication tool that should be part of every student’s
media literacy skills. Stop motion builds team work, interpersonal communication skills,
writing, planning and decision making, as well as story telling. It is also really fun so you
students will work really hard without even knowing it.
Why Adobe Premiere Elements
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Cheap
Easy to Use
Great Resources
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Notes
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Monday
Getting Started
We are going to start with a simple straight forward project just to get you familiar with
the stop motion animation process and equipment.
Name Project
In this project you are going to create a short animation using your first name and last
initial. You will then be able to reuse this in all your projects.
Directions
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Cut you your name using construction paper
Form a small group 2-3 people
Select a computer and create a folder for your project
Launch Premiere Elements and save the project into the folder you just setup
Take turns running the computer and animating the letters
When you finish each name sequence, save it as an .avi movie file into your project
folder.
When every member of the group has finished, copy each members file onto their
personal USB Flash drive
Turn the files into your instructor
Expectations
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Use the carpet as your background
All the letters of your name must enter the screen and exit the screen
In the middle of the animation, your name should be centered in the screen for at least 12
frame grabs. It can be moving or still
Then can come from the top, bottom or right sides but not from the left side
Your project should include at least 120 number of frame grabs
Lessons
 Project Setup and Launching Premiere Elements
 Working with the Premiere Elements Interface
If we have the time and equipment to hook up video cameras and practice capturing
footage, watch the following tutorials. I spoke with a Canon rep the other day and they
will no longer be manufacturing Mini DV cameras so this section will soon become
obsolete (except for educators because we keep all our gear until it crumbs to dust;-)
 Camera Setup
 Capturing Stop Motion
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Notes
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Steps in the Production Process
I like to compare the Production Process with the writing process.
Pre-Production
Research your subject
Treatment
Storyboard
Script
Shot List
Equipment List
Set up Folder Structure
Set up Premiere Elements File (proper settings/auto save)
Schedule
Contact and schedule actors/location/crew
Props
*All these files should be kept in a production notebook
Production
Create Animations
Produce/gather materials
Audio – narration, sound effects, music
Visuals – video, photos, animation, graphics/titles
Post-Production
Log material
Capture/digitize materials
Produce rough cuts – pre-view
Create titles (Premiere Elements/Photoshop/animated)
Add Audio
Add transitions and effects
Edit final cut
Publish
Export
Record/burn/upload
Package (DVD menu, cover, label)
Screen – auditorium, closed-circuit TV, local theater, assembly
Assignment: Discuss the production process.
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Notes
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Tuesday
Composition
Shot Description
Check out this great description of the shots with an image for illustration.
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/
Composition Assignment
Use a digital still camera to create a photo story using a variety of camera shots and
angles. Think carefully about how each type of composition will help to tell your story.
For example, you might want to start with a wide shot to establish the setting and
characters.
Expectations
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Take 5-10 minutes to discuss your story and select your actors and camera operator
Shoot your images in the order of the story.
Take between 8 to 10 images.
Vary your shots and angles. Be creative and demonstrate your mastery of the composition
rules. Use the composition handout for reference.
This should take you no more than 20 minutes. There will be a penalty for being late.
When you return to the room, download the images onto the instructor’s computer. If
there is a line, simply give the camera to the instructor.
Select a team spokesperson and someone to run the computer. The spokesperson will
describe the type of shot and how it tells the story.
Scenario
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Character one is walking down the hall and drops something.
Character two picks it up.
Finish the story.
Materials
Composition Handout
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Notes
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Transformation Project
In this project we will practice using a variety of shot compositions and stop motion
capture to create a short animation that demonstrates the concept of transformation. Then
we will learn how to record audio, rip a sound track and add narration to our projects.
Expectations
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Take 5-10 minutes to discuss your idea for transforming a chunk of clay from one thing
to another.
 Create a storyboard that illustrates your 3-5 scenes
 Your project should include at least three different types of shots/angles. Vary your shots
and angles. Be creative and demonstrate your mastery of the composition rules.
 Your entire project should be at least 10 seconds long
After lunch
 Add at least two sound FX that you recorded
 Add a music track, adjust the volume to accommodate the sound FX
 Add narration for each of your names (take turns)
 Add your name animations to the end of the video
Lessons
Storyboarding
Storyboarding is a tool that crosses most media disciplines. It is an essential tool for
planning the visual elements of a project.
Editing Basics
 Working with the project bin
 Rough Cut: Assembly and trimming clips
Audio
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Working with Audio
Working with Audio Adding Narration
Adding Music
Ripping Audio with Windows Media Player
Recording audio with portable recorder
Soundbooth: Recording audio
Soundbooth: Creating scores
** Getting Help – Remember that you can always ask “Manny” or go to the help menu
when you forget how to do something.
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Notes
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Wednesday
Advanced Techniques
In this section I want to cover all the really cool things you can do with Adobe Premiere
Elements. We will play around with some sample clips just to get the hang of what the
software can do. Don’t worry about saving this work except in the back of your mind
when you start planning your integrated project.
Editing Techniques
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Adding Transitions
Adding Effects
Chroma Key
Title Templates
Broll: Adding and editing overlay clips (time stretch, fade, opacity)
Credits
Picture in Picture
Shooting Night for Day
Looping and grouping
Pixilation – shooting with a still camera
Joe’s Favorite Effects (corner pin, line drawing, old film, invert, black and white)
Time stretch and reverse
Project Planning
Now it is time to dive into planning our integrated animation project. We are going to
start with the most important aspect of the project, the planning process.
Pre-Production
Research your subject
Treatment
Storyboard
Script
Shot List
Equipment List
Props
Schedule
*All these files should be kept in a production notebook.
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Thursday
Stop Motion Integration Project
In this project you will create a short film about a topic of your groups choosing.
Target Audience: Middle and High school students
Format: DVD and online
Length: 20 – 60 seconds
Expectations
Pre-Production
Story Development: The story development sheet should be completely filled. Please
ask for help if you don’t understand anything. Print out a copy for your production
notebook and a copy to turn into the teacher.
This is worth 10 points
Storyboard: A shot by shot illustration of all the scenes you plan to take. These should
demonstrate the camera angle, framing, and include directional arrows and the length of
the shot. Make sure to also include notes on the audio, camera angle, framing, and the
acting directions.
This is worth 20 points
All pre-production must be submitted for approval prior to production!
Production
Camera Work: I expect that you will pay close attention to make sure we don’t get any
hands in the video. Try to get as much light onto your setting as possible to improve the
color of the video. Don’t forget to turn onion skinning on so that you can see the last
couple movements.
This is worth 10 points
Animation: Pay very close attention to making small steady movements so that your
animations look smooth. This can be slow and tedious work so be patient.
This is worth 20 points
Post Production
Editing: Use the storyboard and timeline views to arrange your scenes and then trim out
the unwanted video. Use transitions, special effects and other editing techniques to help
tell your story and make your animation look smooth.
This is worth 20 points
Audio Sweetening: You will be expected to add narration and sound effects. Make sure
to adjust the audio levels so that your voice, music and sound effects can all be clearly
understood. Plan time early on to record your voice over’s and sound effects. Finding and
rendering cool sound effects is a great activity for someone is waiting around for others
in the group.
This is worth 10 points
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Publishing
Exporting: You will be expected to export your project in the following formats.
Avi: This file will be used to upload to the Internet and as your instructor to show the rest
of the class.
DVD: This will allow you to show off your project using a set top DVD player and a TV
or a computer.
This is worth 10 points
Roles
Director: Without clear, strong direction you will waste time on the set and end up with
garbage. Someone in your group needs to take charge and make sure that you get the job
done. This person will be running the computer so they should know the basics of Adobe
Premiere (or able to listen to the directions) and pay close attention so you don’t get a
hand in any of the shots.
Photographer: Someone needs to make sure all the camera settings are correct and that
you get beautiful pictures. Pick the most artistic person who thinks they can handle the
video camera. This person should have a clear understanding of each shot you need and
be constantly preparing for the next shot. They will be responsible for directing the
lighting.
Animator 1 & 2: Someone needs to animate or move the characters and props. These
two people should be patient and have good fine motor skills. They also need to be able
to remember to get their hands out of the picture!
This is worth 30 points (your other three team mates will evaluate you!)
Time line: All pre-production is due prior to production
Each group will the entire day to produce there project. In the afternoon, assign someone
to create the DVD label so your instructor can print labels on the blank DVD’s you will
use to burn your project tomorrow.
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DVD Label Lessons
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Making a DVD label with Adobe Photoshop
*Requires Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
Freeze Frame in Premiere Elements
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Notes
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Friday
Publishing with Adobe Premiere Elements
Export Movie (.avi)
This option will give you a full quality movie file that you can use to archive your project
or make a DVD with later. Export Full Quality Movie
Personal Computer
 Flash Video: This is a great format for the web because of its small size and high
quality.
 Windows Media: This is a great format embedding in a PowerPoint
 iPod/Podcast: This is a popular format.
Online (YouTube)
Now you can publish your video directly to your YouTube account without even leaving
the software!
DVD
DVD is a great format for sharing your video projects. Most DVD burners and players
work best with the DVD-R format. Make sure your computer has a DVD burner before
attempting this.
Grading Criteria and System and/or Evaluation Activities:
To receive credit, a student must attend all class sessions, participate in all class activities, and
submit an assignment according to the following grading criteria:
For a grade of “P” for passing:
1. One stop motion animated project
For a grade of “B”:
1. Two stop motion animated projects
2. A DVD of your stop motion animated project
For a grade of “A”:
1. Two stop motion animated projects
2. A DVD of your stop motion animated project
3. Lesson plan and materials for delivery of the lesson
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Notes
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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Teaching Strategies
The Video Workflow
 Pre-Production (planning, writing, research, Storyboarding)
 Production (recording, creating, designing)
 Post Production (editing)
 Review – check for spelling errors, language
 Presentation
Video Equipment
 Cameras – type, batteries, chargers, bags, color code, white t-shirt
 Tripods –small
 Lights, cookies, gels, C-stands, backdrops, others
 Audio: microphones, cables, headphones, adapters
 Pre-Production Notebook
Props
The questions need to be open ended so that you can’t answer with a yes or no.
Try starting them with:
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Clay, Legos, pipe cleaners, paper, felt, humans
Prop box and zip lock bags (clay), label for each group number
3 sided card board box for the set and to keep all materials within
Cloth, construction paper, wall paper, paint, glass, cotton balls
Glue, scissors, old silverware
Copyright Law – Check out the resources
 Make it yourself
 Get permission
 Buy the license
Work in Teams
 Start with some team building activities.
 Plan teams based on your knowledge of group dynamics.
 Plan and produce in groups, make sure everyone has a clear role
 I usually create groups of 3-4 students.
Reach Out to the Community
Have your students reach out to people in your community. Most people love
getting involved in a cool project. Then follow up with a big thank you DVD and a nice
article in the paper naming everyone involved.
Joe Dockery, Adobe Education Leader | [email protected]
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